Posts Tagged ‘top speed’

We have often complained about the lack of truly far-reaching concept cars on today’s show circuit. Instead of creating visions of a distant future, too often automakers show concepts that closely resemble upcoming production cars; the idea is to condition the public. We may have to shelve that lament for a little while because, with the Mercedes-Benz F 015 Luxury in Motion concept unveiled at CES, Daimler has just shown a dream car in the fully original sense.

Powered by two rear-mounted electric motors with a total peak output of 272 horsepower (and a sustained output of 163 hp), the rear-wheel-drive F 015 is said to sprint to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds, while top speed is limited to 125 mph. The electricity is generated by means of a hydrogen fuel cell; a high-voltage battery can provide short bursts of additional power.

The F 015’s body and structure use aluminum, high-strength steel, and composite materials—including carbon fiber. Its “monolithic” shape features a blurred division between the body and the windows, possibly inspired by Bertone’s classic Lancia Sibilo concept.

Like this:

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A Vietnamese traffic cop went on a wild ride in Hanoi, clinging to the windshield wipers of a moving bus for nearly a kilometer (0.6 mile) after the rogue driver tried to avoid a ticket, police said Friday.

In this photo made from a video filmed Monday, April 9, 2012 and released by Hanoi Police, Vietnamese traffic police 2nd Lt. Nguyen Manh Phan clings on to the windshield wipers of a moving bus as he goes on a wild ride for nearly a kilometer (0.62 miles) after the rogue driver tried to avoid a ticket in Ba Vi District outside Hanoi, Vietnam. Phan ordered the bus driver to pull over the 39-seat passenger coach but the driver allegedly refused to show his paperwork and drove off, but not before Phan leaped onto the front. The driver eventually pulled over after being chased by police and residents. Even with the bus stopped, Phan stood calmly in front of it, still hanging on to the wipers. (AP Photo/Hanoi Police)

The driver allegedly refused to show his paperwork and drove off — but not before Phan leaped onto the front, he added. The officer said the bus reached a top speed of about 50 kilometers per hour (31 mph).

A video shot by one of Phan’s fellow police officers shows the officer trying to get his footing and dangling precariously from the moving bus as oncoming traffic whizzes past. Phan can be heard yelling, “Call the police!”

The driver, Phung Hong Phuong, eventually pulled over after being chased by police and residents.

Even with the bus stopped, Phan stood calmly in front of it, still hanging on to the wipers.

Phuong was arrested for allegedly acting against public officials, an offense that carries a maximum three-year prison sentence, the officer said. He previously served nearly four years in prison for a fatal traffic accident, and was released in 2010.